Charley was diagnosed with PTLD after she reported feeling pain in her kidneys. PTLD is a very rare form of cancer which only shows up in transplant patients. She had a heart transplant when she was 7 months old, which makes her PTLD case even stranger as it typically shows two to five years after the transplant. Pictured from left to right: is Robin, Charley, Chloe and Chad Butler.

(Photo by Ryan Pattee)
Charley was diagnosed with PTLD after she reported feeling pain in her kidneys. PTLD is a very rare form of cancer which only shows up in transplant patients. She had a heart transplant when she was 7 months old, which makes her PTLD case even stranger as it typically shows two to five years after the transplant. Pictured from left to right: is Robin, Charley, Chloe and Chad Butler.

Fundraiser for Charley

Fri, 06/14/2019 - 11:03am admin

By:

Ryan Pattee, News Reporter

    HARLAN -- Charley Falkena is like many teenagers. She attends school, plays sports, cracks jokes and loves spending time with her friends. She lives in Harlan with her mother, Robin; stepdad, Chad; and sister, Chloe.
   When looking at Charley you would have no idea that she is currently battling PTLD.
   PTLD or Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease, is a rare form of cancer which affects transplant patients. The cancer will typically show itself within the first few years after the transplant takes place. For Charley it showed up this past spring when she was 14 years old.
   On Saturday, June 15 a fundraiser for Charley will be held at 5 p.m. at the Avoca Golf Course. There will be a meal, silent auction and live music from Finding Dixie. All proceeds will go towards Charley’s treatment as well as travel expenses for treatment.

Fundraiser for Charley

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